The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-12


tional judges to constitute court of
three members, and the judges so APP
pointed shall hold their office until the
next general election.
Section 16. The several judges of the
Court of Appeals shall possess the same
qualifications and receive the same salary
as justices of the Supreme Court. The
Judges shall select from their own num-
Der presiding judge, who shall perform
such duties aud hold for such term as the
court may prescribe. A majority of the
court shall constitu' quorum, and the
concurrence of two of the judges shall be
necessary to a decision. The court shall
sit at the same times and
places as are prescribed for
the Supreme Court. The court
and the Judges thereof shall have power
to issue the writ of habeas corpus and
all writs known 10 the law which may be
necessary to the exercise of its iurisdic-
ton or to enforce the same. They shall
also have power by mandamus or other
wise to compel the district and other
inferior courts to proceed with the trial
of cases pending in said courts of which
the Court of Appeals would have cogni-
zance on appeal. The court shall also
have power to ascertain such facts as may
be necessary in the exercise of its juris-
diction.
Section II. The Court af Appeals shall
have appellate jurisdiction of criminal
cases, with such exceptions and under
such regulations as,may be prescribed by
law.
Section IS. The Court of Appeals shall
appoint clerk for each place at which il
may sit who shall hold his Office for four
years, subject to removal by the court,
and who shall give such bond as is or may
be prescribed by law.
DISTRICT COURT.
Section 10. The state shall be divided
into convenient number of judicial dis
tricts, consisting of one or more counties.
Regular terms of the court shall be held
by the district judges at the county seat
of each county in the district at least
twice in each year, in such manner as
may be prescribed by general or local
law.
Section 20. There shall be district
Judge for each judicial district, who shall
be elected by the qualified voters of the
district at general election. He shall
hold his Office for the term of four years
from the date of his election. The dis
trict judges who may be in Office when
this amendment takes effect shall hold
their Offices until the expiration of their
several terms under the present constitu-
ton and laws.
Section 81. Each district Judge shall
be qualified voter and resident of the
district, shall have arrived at the age of
| twenty-eight years, and shall Lave been
practicing lawyer in this State at least
six years, and shall reside in his district
during his term of Office.
Section %. The judges of the district
courts shall receive an annual salary of
twenty-five hundred dollars, which shall
be paid as prescribed by law.
Section %. The district courts shall he
courts of general jurisdiction. They
shall have original jurisdiction, both civil
and criminal, of ali cases and special pro-
ceedings of which exclusive jurisdiction
is not conferred on some other court, and
in civil cases such jurisdiction shall be ex-
ercised without regard to any distinction
between law and equity. Contested cleo
tions and other special cases, where the
right to resort to the courts arises only
out of legislative action, may be referred
by the Legislature to the district court, or
other tribunal, with or without the right
of appeal to the Supreme Court, as may
be prescribed by law.
Section "a. The district court shall
have appellate jurisdiction and such con-
troll over the inferior courts and tribunals
in the county as may be prescribed by
law.
Section 25. The district courts, and
II hall hn, tS
issue the writ of habeas corpus, and to
render judgment therein, either in vaca
ton or term time. They shall also have
power to issue writs of mandamus, in.
juntion, certiorari and all writs known tC
the law which may be necessary to the
exercise of their jurisdiction, or to enforce
the same.
Section &c. Any district judge shall
have the power to hold special term OF
the district court in any county of his
district, under such circumstances and il
such manneras may be directed by gen
eral or special law.
= Section 81. There shall be q clerk OF
: the district court of each county, who
: shall be elected by the qualified voters O.
the county, and who shall hold his Office
for two years, whose duties and compensa
ton shall be prescribed by law.
Section %. There shall be elected by
: the qualified voters of each county {
, sheriff, who shall hold his Office for two
years, whose duties, perquisites and fees
of Office shall be prescribed by law.
Section 20. The Legislature shall pro
| vide for the election of district ant
T.. county attorneys, and such other offices as
may be deemed necessary to the due ad
ministration of justice, define their duties
and fix their com pensation. The district
} attorneys and county attorneys, who
shall be in office at the time this amend
meut shall take effect, shall hold theil
Offices until the expiration of their sew
} eral terms under the present Constitn
ton and laws.
Section 80. The Judicial districts in
this State and the time of holding courts
therein, shall remain as at present until
otherwise provided by law.
} Section 81. The criminal district
court of Galveston and Harris Counties
: shall continue with the jurisdiction, or.
ganization, and district now existing un-
/ til otherwise provided by law, and the
, Legislature may establish such Other
I courts, embracing one or more counties
5 with such criminal jurisdiction as may
be provided by law. The qualifications
salaries. and tenure of Office of the judges
l of said courts shall be the same as fol
! Judges of the district court.
l Section 32-Grand and petit juries in
the district court shall be composed OF